Written Answers Tuesday 21 June 2005

Scottish Executive

Child Care

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the implementation of extended school programmes to provide adequate child care from 8am to 6pm.

Euan Robson: In Scotland we already have a strong network of voluntary, public and private sector providers offering a range of child care services from 8am to 6pm which we plan to build on.

Child Care

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote breakfast clubs.

Euan Robson: The Executive is providing over £43 million this year in child care strategy funding to local authorities, who with their partners will determine how to meet local child care need, including the need for breakfast clubs.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds it has made available in each of the last five years for tackling the issues surrounding (a) drugs and (b) alcohol misuse; what funds it has made available for anti-smoking measures over this period, and which groups have received the funds.

Rhona Brankin: Expenditure on tackling drug misuse comes from a wide range of ring fenced and mainstream programmes. These are administered at national and local levels and therefore it is extremely difficult to provide comprehensive and robust aggregate figures on absolute spend. The table shows funding streams for programmes, although it should be noted that definitions can vary of activities which could be included under broad headings such as enforcement and treatment. Some funding streams address both drug and alcohol problems.

  

Drug Misuse (£ Million)
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Treatment (via NHS Boards)
14.9
16.9
16.9
19.7
25.7


Rehabilitation (via authorities)
6.8
6.8
6.8
6.8
6.8


Prisons
2.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0


Criminal Justice (drug courts etc.)
2.7
5.6
6.4
7.8
9.9


Community Disposals (SIPs etc)
5.0
8.5
11.4
12.0*
12.7*


Enforcement (SDEA etc)
13.7
15.7
19.9
21.2**
23.4**


Communication/support
2.4
2.4
2.4
1.8
1.8


Scotland Against Drugs
1.0
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5


Information/Research
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5


Drug and Alcohol Action Teams and National Support
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5



  Notes:

  *These are estimated figures due to mainstreaming of some funding streams.

  **Estimated figures refer to the total SDEA budget.

  An announcement of additional funding to tackle alcohol misuse for 2005-06 will be made shortly. The following table shows funding where figures are available.

  

Alcohol Misuse (£ Million)
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Treatment (via NHS Boards)
-
-
-
3.0
5.0


Communications
-
1.1
0.9
0.9
tbc


Alcohol Focus Scotland
-
0.1
0.4
0.4
0.4


General
-
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.2


Drug and Alcohol Action Teams and National Support
-
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0



  Funding for anti-smoking measures is shown in the table, which includes support for ASH Scotland, Partnership Action on Tobacco Health and NHS Health Scotland.

  

Anti-Smoking Measures (£ Million)
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


 
4.4
4.5
5.9
6.0
11.0

Emergency Planning

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it will make available to emergency planning strategic coordinating groups so that they can continue to lead improvements in civil protection capabilities.

Hugh Henry: The eight strategic coordinating groups across Scotland will have a crucial role to play in ensuring that the new duties imposed by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 are taken forward in their areas. The Executive is committed to providing appropriate support particularly to enable the groups to take on their enhanced roles and to ensure that communication at the local level is fit for purpose. Through my common law powers, I am therefore prepared to make available sufficient funds from within resources already set aside for civil defence and emergency planning to enable senior co-ordinators to be employed in each of the eight areas and provide them with appropriate support. So far Dumfries and Galloway and Central strategic co-ordinating groups have each submitted a proposal for a co-ordinator. Their proposals have been approved and will cost in total £100,000 per year. A further announcement about appointments in other areas will be made in due course.

Football

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether football organisations other than the Scottish Football Association are entitled to seek financial assistance from  sportscotland and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Patricia Ferguson: Sportscotland only provides development grant aid to the governing bodies of sport and in football’s case this is the SFA.  Sportscotland does not simply grant-aid activity. It makes an investment in a sport having considered whether the sport has a clear development plan and the ability to deliver it and having considered the extent to which the plan will contribute to delivering Sport 21.

  Any football organisation or club meeting the eligibility criteria can apply for funding under the Sportsmatch, Awards for All and Building for Sport programmes administered by sportscotland.

Further Education

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students attended further education colleges, broken down into full and part-time students, how much capital and revenue support was provided to further education colleges, including the amount of money ring-fenced for specific purposes and how many further education (FE) colleges showed a financial deficit and how much each such deficit was in each of the last six years and what the planned levels of financial support for further education colleges in Scotland are for the next three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: A table showing enrolment data for students attending colleges for the years 2003-04 has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 36788). Collection of statistics relating to further education colleges is the responsibility of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC). It collects data on enrolments at further education colleges but not numbers of students.

  The funding councils’ joint corporate plan gives details of the overall support provided to FE colleges since 2004-05 and planned level of support until 2007-08 see Annex A of this document:

  http://www.sfc.ac.uk/joint_info/publications/sfc_joint_corporate_plan_2003-06.pdf.

  This is detailed by recurrent funding and capital funding (which is the ear-marked element of funding).

  The SFEFC annual report gives details of the support to individual colleges for 2003-04 (see Annex 1 of this document):

  http://www.sfefc.ac.uk/publications/annual_report/SFEFC_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2003-04.pdf.

  The following table summarises the number of colleges showing a financial deficit and how much each such deficit was in each of the last six years.

  

 
Sector Operating Surplus/(Deficit)
(£ Million)
  
No. of Colleges with Operating Deficit


1998-99
(23)
36


1999-2000(16 Month Period)
  
(16)
31


2000-01
(13.8)
34


2001-02
1.7
18


2002-03
(6.0)
21


2003-04
2.4
12



  The information for the last four years (2000-01 to 2003-04) is available in more detail and by college on the SFEFC website:

  http://www.sfefc.ac.uk/about_us/departments/gmap/performance_indicators.html.

  The 1998-99 and 1999-2000 figures were taken from the 1999-2000 Audit Scotland overview report on the financial health of the sector.

Health

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action it is taking through its health programmes to raise the personal aspirations of the people of Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive’s various initiatives on health improvement, including our work on improving mental health and wellbeing, are all designed to help people both improve their health and wellbeing and develop their confidence and self-esteem.

  This involves encouraging people who experience ill-health - physical or mental - to have the confidence to seek help or to change their lifestyles as and when they need to do so. It is also about improving wellbeing in the general population and providing greater opportunities for people to be more in control of key decisions in their lives, allowing people to raise their personal aspirations and to fulfil their potential. This is at the heart of all the Executive’s work for the people of Scotland.

  Good health is fundamental to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people of Scotland. This is why we are stepping up action to improve the health of all and have a range of activities in place to achieve this – including work on diet, smoking cessation, physical activity and mental wellbeing.

Homelessness

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether current arrangements for homeless people moving to permanent lets of houses in Glasgow are adequate.

Malcolm Chisholm: Glasgow City Council (GCC) has a statutory duty to provide permanent accommodation to unintentionally homeless people who have a priority need and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) have a statutory duty to comply with local authority requests to provide permanent accommodation unless there is a good reason not to do so.

  Homelessness Duty Protocols are in place between GCC and the various RSLs in Glasgow. These protocols were developed to enable the smooth and effective operation of the legislative duties, and are reviewed on a regular basis. The review of the operation of the Homelessness Duty Protocols for 2003-04 was considered by the council’s Social Care Services Committee last year. The council are currently analysing the returns for 2004-05 and will report the outcome to the Social Care Committee in August 2005.

  The Executive’s latest published statistics, for 2003-04 indicate that 27% of homeless people assessed as being in "priority need" in Glasgow, were provided with permanent accommodation (Operation of the Homeless Persons Legislation in Scotland: National and Local Authority Analyses 2003-04). Statistics for 2004-05 are not yet available. GCC advise that the situation has improved, and we have asked them to provide information about this in their progress report on their homelessness strategy for 2004-05.

Medical Students

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the report in The Herald on 3 March 2005 anent the threatened removal of dental degrees from the Glasgow Dental School, when ministers were first made aware of these issues and whether the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care will report to the Parliament on the outcome of her talks with the Principal of Glasgow University.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is committed to improve the number and quality of dental professionals training in Scotland. The combined Glasgow Dental School and Hospital continue to receive record levels of funding from the Executive through a combination of resources from the NHS and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

  Senior Executive officials were aware of concerns expressed by the General Dental Council regarding Glasgow Dental School from early 2004. These concerns were highlighted to the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care in December 2004 when she met with the Chief Executive and President of the General Dental Council. Concerns expressed at that meeting led to a meeting between the Deputy Minister and Sir Muir Russell, the Principal of Glasgow University on 28 April 2005.

  Since the initial concerns were raised Glasgow University and Greater Glasgow Health Board have been addressing the issues. The Executive is aware that the General Dental Council recently visited Glasgow Dental Hospital and understands that the university and health board have in the main successfully addressed council concerns and have not been made aware of any major issues that the council intends to highlight. The Executive will, however, await the final report of the council before considering whether any Executive response is appropriate.

National Health Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of medical malpractice have been filed in the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the number of medical malpractice cases filed against NHSScotland in the last five years is not held centrally.

Recycling

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities provide facilities for the recycling of plastic bottles.

Ross Finnie: Twenty-four local authorities provide facilities for the recycling of plastic bottles either through kerbside collections or through recycling points or centres. Information on recycling facilities across Scotland can be found on the "Sort-It" section of the Scottish Waste Awareness Group’s website at http://www.wascot.org.uk/ .

Speed Limits

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an order to lower the speed limit to 30mph on A95 at Cromdale, as indicated on the plan sent by the Secretary of Cromdale and Advie Community Council to it on 9 February 2004, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter; whether any objections were raised by local residents during the consultation process on a proposed order; how many objections there were to the proposed order and, of these, how many were from local residents, and how much the consultation cost, including time spent by civil servants working on it.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Nicol Stephen: A response to the above question was issued on 20 June 2005 in error.

  In 2004 the Scottish Executive published a draft order for a 30mph speed limit on the A95 at Cromdale. Two objections were lodged; neither of these were from local residents. Information submitted by the objectors in support of their objections has been considered in conjunction with the advice given in SOID Circular 1/93 Speed Limits – Guidance for Roads Authorities.

  Further consideration is now being given to identify actions aimed at addressing the substance of these objections. This will include the installation of a temporary 30mph speed limit and monitoring of driver behaviour for a trial period. I have asked officials to meet the community council to discuss these actions. The intention of the Executive remains to proceed with the confirmation of the draft order.

  The consultation costs amounted to £450.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Freedom of Information

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer whether it will provide details of the staff time and costs incurred in dealing with each freedom of information request made to date and whether it will automatically provide this information for future requests.

Robert Brown (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): Prior to 1 May 2005, we did not record the amount of staff time incurred in dealing with each individual FOI request. Information about time spent is recorded once the enquiry has been completed. Details of the time spent on each request completed between 1 May 2005 and 15 June 2005 are given in the attached table. Staff costs are calculated using an average hourly rate of £20. This does not include overheads such as photocopying, printing and postal charges or the provision of legal advice, figures for which are not available.

  

Summary of request
Response Sent
Hours
Estimated Cost


Information relating to Freedom of Information requests received by the Scottish Parliament
09/05/2005
4.8
£96.00


Details relating to the value and payment of wine stored at the Scottish Parliament
05/05/2005
5
£100.00


Request for copy of items listed in the disclosure log
17/05/2005
4
£80.00


Request for copy of items listed in the disclosure log
17/05/2005
3
£60.00


All communications related to an alleged telephone interception incident between the constituency office of Christine Grahame MSP and Parliament Headquarters
19/05/2005
18.5
£370.00


Request for the identity of the 48 MSPs who have used their Allowance to purchase private properties
02/06/2005
7.75
£155.00


Details of David McLetchie taxi claims to Queen Street Edinburgh or Tods Murray solicitors.
01/06/2005
1.25
£25.00


All information held by CE and CE Office which relates to the requester1
19/05/2005
7.75
£155.00


Request for copies of 14 FOI responses listed in the disclosure log
20/05/2005
5.5
£110.00


Communications from the Sheriffs' Association relating to the Justice 1 Committee's Regulation of the Legal Profession Inquiry
20/05/2005
6
£120.00


A breakdown of all Gordon Jackson MSP's expense claims for 2003/04. How many days did Parliament sit in 2003/04. Is there a register of MSP's attendance. If so, provide figures of each MSP's attendance
05/05/2005
1
£20.00


A detailed breakdown of all Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance paid to MSPs for the period 2003/04
10/05/2005
2
£40.00


Name of MSP referred to in News of the World story relating to alleged sexual activity in the Parliament precincts
11/05/2005
2.5
£50.00


The name of the person who submitted FOI request reference 2005-006611
11/05/2005
0.25
£5.00


Information on fees paid to DLE, EMBT/RMJM and to RMJM Services during the construction of Holyrood
26/05/2005
11
£220.00


Copy of the contract between the Scottish Executive and BEAR Scotland relating to the M90 motorway
03/05/2005
0.25
£5.00


Copies of David McLetchie's travel claims supporting mileage, air travel, car hire and taxis in 1999-2000 and 2000-011
12/05/2005
10.17
£203.40


Request for Argyll and Clyde Health Board accounts for 2004/2005
04/05/2005
0.4
£8.00


Request for Keith Raffan MSP FOI responses
17/05/2005
4.67
£93.40


Copies of correspondence sent to the Chief Executive and Presiding Officer regarding changes to the rules on Time for Reflection
07/06/2005
6.5
£130.00


Claims made by Keith Raffan against his winding up allowance
08/06/2005
6.76
£135.20


Copy of the 2002 report entitled "Assessment of the Potential for Event Staging at the Scottish Parliament Building, Holyrood"
09/06/2005
4
£80.00


Copy of SPICe Briefing Paper 'Contact Orders under Children (Scotland) Act 1995'
09/05/2005
1
£20.00


Appointment and employment details for the Clerk/Chief Executive
03/06/2005
3
£60.00


Request for information on the number of English MSPs
24/05/2005
1
£20.00


Request for information on Scots language use
31/05/2005
3.8
£76.00


Total
 
121.85
£2,437.00



  Note: 1. Including review.

  We do not currently publish this information routinely on our website.

G8 Summit

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether any of the G8 leaders and supporting delegations will be visiting the Parliament and, if so, whether they will be required to produce any identification such as a utility bill in order to gain access to the Parliament building, in light of the recent announcement on the security arrangements during the G8 summit.

George Reid: In the interests of security it would not be prudent to comment on the G8 leaders’ movements.